‘MLRC budget not reduced’

The Governor’s Office denied that it reduced by $100,000 the proposed budget for the Micronesian Legal Services Corp. for 2005. On the contrary, it said it increased MLRC’s budget request from $68,000 to $168,184.

“In fact, Gov. Juan N. Babauta’s budget proposal for Legal Services is $100,000 higher than the fiscal year 2004 budget, $100,000 higher than the Senate FY 2005 budget, and $129,319 higher than the House budget,” said governor senior advisor Bob Schwalbach in a Nov. 17 letter to MLSC directing attorney Jane Mack.

The House approved $38,865 for MLSC while the Senate maintained the continuing resolution level.

Schwalbach said that as early as October this year, Babauta wrote to House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial supporting additional funding for the agency.

“The governor shares your concern that low-income people should have access to legal help. So I want you to know the Saipan Tribune article was wrong on the facts and that, if the governor’s budget is adopted, Legal Services will be better able to provide that help,” Schwalbach told Mack.

Mack, in the Oct. 13 letter to Fitial that was reported by the Saipan Tribune, said that the governor slashed the original budget request by $100,000.

“I understand that that the governor only requested $68,184 for our independent agency. Back in April 2004, the OMB had faxed us a worksheet listing us with $168,184, to which we reluctantly agreed. I was unaware that the governor then deleted $100,000 from this total in his budget submission,” said Mack.

Mack noted that MLSC provides services to the poorest in the community.

“Please consider the needs of the poorest in the community, who depend on us as their only avenue for access to justice and the judicial system,” she told Fitial.

MLSC, founded over 30 years ago, provides free legal services to indigent individuals in civil cases.

In its letter to Fitial, MLSC is asking for at least $200,000 “to keep us going.” It said its activities would actually require over $400,000.

Fitial, in an Oct. 13 letter to Babauta, asked the governor to use Compact Impact funding to support MLRC.

“Because of the continuous inflow of Micronesian immigrants…I ask you to consider granting MLRC additional funding through Compact Impact federal grants….An allotment of $300,000 should be quite adequate,” he said.

Fitial said that due to significant economic constraint, the allocation for the agency was reduced.

In an Oct. 26 letter, Babauta said, “I fully agree with you that this agency requires additional funding. For that reason, my FY05 budget includes $168,184 for Micronesian Legal Services. This is $100,000 increase over the current funding.”